August IVF

[Mseddy]

Had a quick look through but can't find an existing thread. Anyone due to cycle in August after a bit of moral support?

We are due to start our 2nd cycle of icsi for male azoospermia and my premature ovarian aging (full house for us!)

Hi everyone, looks like I'm out for this month. My womb lining is too thick to start my oestrogen tablets but doesn't look thick enough for a proper bleed. It could happen in the next couple of weeks but unlikely. They've recommended I take the pill for a month. To say I'm gutted is an understatement, so think I'm going to bow out of this thread now. Wishing you all the absolute best of luck with your cycles!

Oh @Eggling that is so shitty. Sorry xx

@Eggling so sorry to hear that, all the best

@Eggling oh I’m gutted for you all the best, Hope next month has a better outcome for you.

@seven201 @Ro198 thanks for the replies I’ll try not to worry about it!

@Eggling

Hi everyone, looks like I'm out for this month. My womb lining is too thick to start my oestrogen tablets but doesn't look thick enough for a proper bleed. It could happen in the next couple of weeks but unlikely. They've recommended I take the pill for a month. To say I'm gutted is an understatement, so think I'm going to bow out of this thread now. Wishing you all the absolute best of luck with your cycles!

Oh I'm so sorry. All the best with future months Really wishing you all the luck xxx

@Eggling sorry to hear that I know nothing will make you feel better, but at least your little embabies are safe in the freezer waiting for the perfect moment

Ahh @LizTay80 sorry you've had a scare... but very glad you have four embryos which have made it - fingers crossed for you.

@kikisparks I'm about to have mine too - good question. Thanks @seven201 for the answer! Also, sorry to hear about the frustrating comms. We've had some back and forward as dealing with multiple clinics in the same hospital (gynae/andrology/cryo) - working out how they fit together needs some sort of degree or something!! But yes - just so thankful that I can be seen on NHS, esp as I'm now 41, and lots of other places would have stopped funding by now.

I just started spotted after stopping Norethisterone on Thursday. Maybe tomorrow will be day 1, so baseline scan will hopefully be midweek. It's all happening - eek!

A question on exercise - what have people heard about continuing with exercise?! I run about 5/6k a few times a week. Not fast or anything! The nurse has told me to 'take it easy' which is fairly subjective. Anyone heard anything more specific?!

@Lepatz my clinic said that I could do any exercise once I started stims other than jogging

Thanks @Ro198 - I better get some jogs in before my baseline scan this week then :)

@Lepatz from reading this thread all the clinics seem to give different advice anyway so yours might think it’s fine. They said it was to prevent damage to the ovaries while they were larger.

Had my baseline today, all fine, lining was 2mm and no cysts so can go ahead. They said I had PCO during the scan, does anyone know what that means? I did ask but they just said don’t worry it doesn’t mean you have PCOS and google is only coming up with PCOS.

She gave me my first Menopur injection which was fine but I couldn’t look (hate needles) so I’m nervous about how I’ll do this myself tomorrow, I just need to woman up! They did say if I really can’t do it I can go in twice a day and the nurses will do it but I think that’s more to put my mind at ease that there’s a back up so that the psychological pressure isn’t too much.

It’s strange coming home with a bag full of needles, but I’m feeling happy to be finally getting started.

Hi ladies hope you're all ok. We had our egg collection yesterday which went well, I was completely out so was much happier!! The three follicles we had, all managed to produce an egg and all three have fertilised which is the first hurdle. Obviously have some waiting to do as they only want to put one back that makes it to day 5. Keeping everything crossed.

@Lepatz just to add to the exercise question. I asked the same thing as I'm the same as you and run 5/6k 3 times a week. My consultant just said to run slowly, and should be fine as my body is used to it. I ran until 3 days before EC. But I'm on a mild protocol so only 7 days of stimms

@kikisparks I was super nervous about the injections as I have been known to be a fainter with injections and blood tests (although 2 years of infertility has certainly made it better). I ended up doing all my injections and found it a lot easier than I anticipated. Best of luck, you will be fine

Hey all, hope you've all had relaxing a Sunday.

@StayingPositive8 Congrats on the 3 for 3 embies, that's great news!! Keeping everything crossed for you. And thanks re the running - I guess I'll wait to see how I feel once the stims start. Good to know it's not an absolute rule. Access to the consultant has been patchy for me - as it's MFI, we've seen the andrologist way more, I've mostly seen the nurse.

@kikisparks I was so nervous too. Lucky my partner has had a load of experience due to his MFI treatment. Here's some tips that helped me :) I've been doing it in the belly - a different side each day. Lying down makes it easier. Aim for the soft bit above the pelvic bone, not right under the button as it hurts more. Pinch, inhale, and put it in at a 45 degree angle as you exhale. Release the pinch, then slowly squeeze the stuff in. Leave the needle in for a few seconds to let it drain to minimise risk of blood spots. Oh, and the tip of the needle is an angle - be sure to point the sharp side down. Hope this isn't teaching you to suck eggs - but I didn't know the details (or I forgot as it was pre-lockdown!), and it made a difference. Good luck!

@StayingPositive8 congratulations, that’s amazing news!! Keeping everything crossed for you.

Ladies I was hoping for some advice. I have really really been struggling with anxiety the past couple of weeks - I haven’t had it this bad for years but I can only assume it’s because of the IVF cycle being about to start. Honestly it’s awful though, always centres around my health! Anyway, my cycles are always regular 28 days. This afternoon me and my DP DTD and I’ve started spotting. I’m not due on till Thursday and had an appointment with Care on Tuesday to sort out drugs etc. I’m sure he mentioned last time starting me on the pill from day 1 of my cycle?! So if I properly come on tomorrow does that mean I can’t start till next month? Also slightly concerned as I rarely have spotting and that sex brought it on I know that anxiety and stress can cause a decrease in progesterone which could bring a period on so I’m hoping it’s just that but a tiny part of me is worried it could be something else. Any advice would be much appreciated! X

@kikisparks I think (I might be wrong but I’m sure I’ve heard this before) PCO is polycystic ovaries so it might mean that you have lots of follicles or more partially mature follicles. It’s different from PCOS which is an actual condition with side effects. X

Hi all,

Can I just ask does anyone else regularly exercise at all and have you been given any advice surrounding this through and post treatment?
I'm a fitness instructor for a living and while I've take the week of collection off work and also the following week for transfer, I'm not sure how long I can go without coaching classes. It's been tough enough trying to manage my anxiety as it is (I use exercise to keep this at bay and have history of ED so the control helps me cope) I've been reading things that say any exercise within the first 10 weeks can result in MC.

I'm on short protocol starting ovaleap in 10 days and I know my anxiety is high because my body is so full of hormones at the minute but I'm freaking out!

Hope everyone else is managing to stay sane 🙈

Hey guys, just catching up on the last couple of days- so much has happened!!

@StayingPositive8 that's great news that all three eggs were collected and fertilised!

@LizTay80 I'm glad the retrieval went well but I'm sorry about the drop off. I can imagine that would be a horrible phonecall to get but four is still great. I've got everything crossed for you that they all keep going to day 5. Do you get a day three update?

@kikisparks That's great you've got the go ahead! I was feeling really blasé about the injections until they all arrived and now a bit of nervousness is kicking in. I'm absolutely fine with needles usually but I never look at them and let whoever is sticking me get on with it. Let me know how it goes tomorrow.

@Raggity19 hey, I don't really have any advice about the physical stuff but I have experienced a lot of anxiety in the past and I know how you feel. Even from your post I identify so much with the thought process, it's really shit when it spirals like that :(

Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. I saw a counsellor last year primarily to deal with loss but the loss sparked a lot of anxiety and I learned some techniques that helped. The first is the idea that I can't alter what happens with my thoughts, there is an inevitability to whatever happens- time will pass, mostly good things will happen and some bad things will happen. In some things, I am powerless and no amount of positive or negative thinking will make any difference as long as I am doing everything I can to do the things I do have power over (not smoking, not binge drinking etc). In my head I will run down the worst case scenario rabbit hole and really live it all out in vivid detail. Like when my husband was having stomach troubles, I thought it could be pancreatic cancer... In my head I had imagined the Dr telling us the news, how I would react, how I would have to be strong and try not to cry.... I played it all out. I then have to pull it back and ask myself what is the point of being miserable twice? If it happens then it would be awful, why put myself through it before then? For some reason that re-framing seems to work quite well for me.

I don't know, maybe I just sound really mad but I hope it helps a tiny bit. Xx

@CardboardCat thank you so much for that! It’s helpful to know I’m not alone. I felt so positive with our first cycle, perhaps naively so as I just assumed it would work. This time I am really working myself up! I did have a baseline scan 2 weeks ago so I would hope if there was a cyst or anything it would have been picked up. I’m going to call the doctors tomorrow just so they can hopefully put my mind at rest and was hoping maybe they’d be able to give me something to take the edge off it, but then I’m worried about how that could affect the treatment 😂 it’s ridiculous. I had shingles a few months ago which I’m convinced was stress related (it was in my ear and my face was paralysed for 2 weeks) so also terrified of that happening again and constantly checking my face in the mirror. I think to be honest it’s all displacement and I really need to find a better way of managing my stress and anxiety.
You’re so right thought about the being miserable twice. I’ve actually never thought of it like that so thank you! I will try to keep that in mind next time I feel the panic set in xx

@Raggity19 You're putting in all the positive action so hopefully your Dr will be able to put your mind at rest a little. I think you're right about cysts and things- it would be quite unusual for them to pop up in less than two weeks (feel free to correct me on that one though).

Also, if anyone tells you to "juuustt relaaaaxxxx" then you have my permission to stamp on them ;)

Hi all, I've been lurking on this thread as I was hoping to start my first round of IVF this month but wasn't sure if it would happen or not. I've had confirmation I can call the clinic on day 1 of my period, which should be tomorrow. It's weird that I've spent so long hoping my period wouldn't arrive, and now I'm desperate for it to start, I really hope it arrives on time. I'm not sure what to expect with this being our first try, but feeling very excited and nervous!

Good luck to everyone!

@StayingPositive8 congrats on a successful egg collection and fingers crossed for your 3 embryos! I’m also very impressed you did all of your injections after you usually fainted with needles, well done!

@Lepatz thanks for the tips, unfortunately I didn’t do any of this as I had a panic attack and my poor husband had to do it for me whilst I cried, but first one is done at least.

@Raggity19 sorry about your anxiety, I can definitely empathise! My cycle is always messed up when I’m stressed so I think it’s likely to be that. I did once go to the GP a few years ago when I had some bleeding after sex and she told me it was normal and fine but you should speak to your own GP if you’re worried. Thanks for the tip on PCO I’ve looked into it some more and I think you’re right. They told me it was nothing to worry about but of course I worry anyway!

@CardboardCat physically the injections are absolutely fine and nearly all women manage them themselves with no problems. My own experience below is not the usual, I don’t want to scare you as physically it is not sore and it’s not a big needle, logically it is not a big deal.

Unfortunately I’m not as strong as I thought I was and did not cope emotionally well at all this morning, I woke up early thinking I’m going to do this and got it all set up but then looked at the needle and felt sick. I spent an hour going back and forth on trying to do it, I ended up waking up my husband who has a day off and was meant to be having a lie in and asked him to do it. Then I had a panic attack when he tried to do it, I calmed down enough for him to do it in the end but I was still crying heavily and I yelped like a wounded dog when he stuck it in. Pretty embarrassing to be such a wuss although he was very kind.

I’m now not sure what to do though as my DH is off work today and as of tomorrow he’s working from 7am. We did the injection today at 8.30am meaning it needs to be done each day between 8 and 9. I think he’s going to have to ask his work if he can change his shifts which he might not get to do. I can’t even think about it right now without being overwhelmed. I’m back at work today and I need to focus on work and telling my boss about the time off I’m going to need.

Hi @Mseddy! I am due to start my second egg collection (short protocol) in mid-August, just waiting on my period to arrive. I would love a cycle buddy if we are still synced up. I am so sorry your last cycle didn't work out. I don't think its humanly possible to be prepared for the many challenges IVF throws at you. I hope you are doing okay.

I had my first egg collection in July and we are awaiting the genetic and chromosomal results on six blastocysts--very anxious! We are moving countries in late Fall, so we are trying to get all the blastocysts we will ever need before moving. We plan to come back for transfers.

My husband as severe oligospermia, I have only one ovary and we are both carriers of the Cystic Fibrosis gene. Full house of infertility here too!

@kikisparks I really empathise with you regarding the needles, is the clinic too far for you to go in on the days your husband is working for them to inject you?

So after chasing and chasing we've got our first IVF appointment on Monday afternoon next week and have been told it'll be via phone. Can anyone tell me what this appointment will be like (we've been under a fertility consultant at a different nhs trust who made the IVF referral for us and have both had all our investigations and repeat ones done).
Any advice on what questions I should be armed with for the phone appointment also?